Psalm 4
1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
2 How long, O you sons of men,
Will you turn my glory to shame?
How long will you love worthlessness
And seek falsehood? Selah
3 But know that the LORD has set apart[a] for Himself him who is godly;
The LORD will hear when I call to Him.
4 Be angry, and do not sin.
Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah
5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
And put your trust in the LORD.
6 There are many who say,
“Who will show us any good?”
LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
7 You have put gladness in my heart,
More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD.
This verse ranks up there with some of the most practical in Scripture. Listen up!
While meditating on this verse I tried to decide to whom David might have been speaking to here. There are really only three choices: himself and his God, his enemies or the brave men who remained loyal to him during Absalom's rebellion. I personally believe that David was praying before he retired for the night and was speaking to His God. To whom he is speaking in this case really does not matter. The advice is good for both the believer and the unbeliever and the application for us the same.
Be angry and do not sin. Sinful anger leads to sinful actions. Their is anger that is not sinful, but I am usually not guilty of that one. Even if I do have a righteous anger against sin it soon goes down the wrong path toward pride and becomes once again unholy anger. SIGH! The verse in the King James reads like this: "Stand in awe and sin not." I love that...stand in awe. Tremble before the One who holds the power of life and death in His hands. The One who is truly in control. The One who loves you with an everlasting love and upholds you with His righteous right hand. If you fear the Lord, you need not fear anything else. David's enemies did not fear David, the rightful king of Israel or the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. They were following slander and lies and doing what was right in their own eyes. They would reap the sad consequences of their sin every day. Sin is described as a pregnancy in Scripture in at least 3 or 4 different places. When it grows up it destroys the one who conceived it. It has judgment built right in. Galatians 6:7 says a sinners sin comes back on their own heads. Proverbs 26:27 says they dig pits and fall into them themselves. Nobody escapes the consequence of sin. David is thinking rightly here. He had plenty of reasons to be angry. Betrayal and ungodliness surround him. He knows his anger could get the best of him and he would then act rashly and take matters into his own hands. Instead of going down that road, David reminds himself to stand in awe of His God. Girls, this is so helpful. As we fill our minds with Him all the foolish thoughts fall away and we behold Him and are comforted. We remember that our defense is of Him. We remember it is not about us...it is about Him...His plans, His purposes and our job is to wait on Him and be obedient to whatever part He has called us.
Meditate within your heart on your bed and be still. The King James says "commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. David encourages himself to meditate on His God and His word and to commune with his own heart. He is to do this in the privacy of his own bed and to be still....literally "hands off"!! The word meditate means to say over and over...think of a cow chewing its cud. It chews, swallows, then regurgitates and repeats the process over and over getting every bit of it digested and every nutrient absorbed. Our hearts are transformed by his word. Meditation on His word is how our minds are renewed and His good and perfect and acceptable will for discerned. Girls, instead of allowing your minds to race at night thinking on all that has been done to you by others begin to search your own hearts and be still...wait for Him to speak and show you your own sin. It is so easy for us to see the sins of others and meditate on it...seeing our own, however, is what we need to be doing. Matthew 7 talks about judging and planking and specking...don't do it! Look at your own heart and ask the Lord to reveal those things He wants you to see in your own life. Gaze deeply into the mirror of His word and be transformed into His image. Confess your wrong thoughts to the Lord and be still...wait on Him and be ready to hear what is His prescription.. 1 John 1:9-10 say "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."
Last part...my favorite..."Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD." Do the right thing!! Do not react according to the dictates of your own heart but respond rightly according to His word. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. Put your trust in Him. Know that He is your defender. Be still and know that He is God. Psalm 37: 6 says "He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday." Before honor the bible says is humility. Honor Him by trusting Him to do the work. Do not trust in your own plans or your own wisdom...they are destined to fail. Taking offense on behalf of ourselves is always wrong.
I pray that each of us could have a heart like David had and that when faced with accusations, condemnation and slander we could say like He did in Psalm 7 that our defense is of God. David loved God fervently and because of His love for God He knew that God was able to perfect all things that concerned Him. Truly, girls, our God does perform all things for us!This verse ranks up there with some of the most practical in Scripture. Listen up!
While meditating on this verse I tried to decide to whom David might have been speaking to here. There are really only three choices: himself and his God, his enemies or the brave men who remained loyal to him during Absalom's rebellion. I personally believe that David was praying before he retired for the night and was speaking to His God. To whom he is speaking in this case really does not matter. The advice is good for both the believer and the unbeliever and the application for us the same.
Be angry and do not sin. Sinful anger leads to sinful actions. Their is anger that is not sinful, but I am usually not guilty of that one. Even if I do have a righteous anger against sin it soon goes down the wrong path toward pride and becomes once again unholy anger. SIGH! The verse in the King James reads like this: "Stand in awe and sin not." I love that...stand in awe. Tremble before the One who holds the power of life and death in His hands. The One who is truly in control. The One who loves you with an everlasting love and upholds you with His righteous right hand. If you fear the Lord, you need not fear anything else. David's enemies did not fear David, the rightful king of Israel or the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. They were following slander and lies and doing what was right in their own eyes. They would reap the sad consequences of their sin every day. Sin is described as a pregnancy in Scripture in at least 3 or 4 different places. When it grows up it destroys the one who conceived it. It has judgment built right in. Galatians 6:7 says a sinners sin comes back on their own heads. Proverbs 26:27 says they dig pits and fall into them themselves. Nobody escapes the consequence of sin. David is thinking rightly here. He had plenty of reasons to be angry. Betrayal and ungodliness surround him. He knows his anger could get the best of him and he would then act rashly and take matters into his own hands. Instead of going down that road, David reminds himself to stand in awe of His God. Girls, this is so helpful. As we fill our minds with Him all the foolish thoughts fall away and we behold Him and are comforted. We remember that our defense is of Him. We remember it is not about us...it is about Him...His plans, His purposes and our job is to wait on Him and be obedient to whatever part He has called us.
Meditate within your heart on your bed and be still. The King James says "commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. David encourages himself to meditate on His God and His word and to commune with his own heart. He is to do this in the privacy of his own bed and to be still....literally "hands off"!! The word meditate means to say over and over...think of a cow chewing its cud. It chews, swallows, then regurgitates and repeats the process over and over getting every bit of it digested and every nutrient absorbed. Our hearts are transformed by his word. Meditation on His word is how our minds are renewed and His good and perfect and acceptable will for discerned. Girls, instead of allowing your minds to race at night thinking on all that has been done to you by others begin to search your own hearts and be still...wait for Him to speak and show you your own sin. It is so easy for us to see the sins of others and meditate on it...seeing our own, however, is what we need to be doing. Matthew 7 talks about judging and planking and specking...don't do it! Look at your own heart and ask the Lord to reveal those things He wants you to see in your own life. Gaze deeply into the mirror of His word and be transformed into His image. Confess your wrong thoughts to the Lord and be still...wait on Him and be ready to hear what is His prescription.. 1 John 1:9-10 say "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."
Last part...my favorite..."Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD." Do the right thing!! Do not react according to the dictates of your own heart but respond rightly according to His word. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. Put your trust in Him. Know that He is your defender. Be still and know that He is God. Psalm 37: 6 says "He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday." Before honor the bible says is humility. Honor Him by trusting Him to do the work. Do not trust in your own plans or your own wisdom...they are destined to fail. Taking offense on behalf of ourselves is always wrong.
Love
Mom
These are some of the most comforting verses in Scripture...meditate on them...
In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.--Psalm 94:19
I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me.--Psalm 57:2
The LORD will perfect that which concerns me;--Psalm 138:8
I have included below Psalm 37 in its entirety....
Psalm 37
1 Do not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
And wither as the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret—it only causes harm.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on the LORD,
They shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;
Indeed, you will look carefully for his place,
But it shall be no more.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth,
And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plots against the just,
And gnashes at him with his teeth.
13 The Lord laughs at him,
For He sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn the sword
And have bent their bow,
To cast down the poor and needy,
To slay those who are of upright conduct.
15 Their sword shall enter their own heart,
And their bows shall be broken.
16 A little that a righteous man has
Is better than the riches of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
But the LORD upholds the righteous.
18 The LORD knows the days of the upright,
And their inheritance shall be forever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time,
And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20 But the wicked shall perish;
And the enemies of the LORD,
Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish.
Into smoke they shall vanish away.
21 The wicked borrows and does not repay,
But the righteous shows mercy and gives.
22 For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth,
But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the LORD upholds him with His hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread.
26 He is ever merciful, and lends;
And his descendants are blessed.
27 Depart from evil, and do good;
And dwell forevermore.
28 For the LORD loves justice,
And does not forsake His saints;
They are preserved forever,
But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land,
And dwell in it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom,
And his tongue talks of justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
None of his steps shall slide.
32 The wicked watches the righteous,
And seeks to slay him.
33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand,
Nor condemn him when he is judged.
34 Wait on the LORD,
And keep His way,
And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;
When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power,
And spreading himself like a native green tree.
36 Yet he passed away,[a] and behold, he was no more;
Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright;
For the future of that man is peace.
38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together;
The future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
He is their strength in the time of trouble.
40 And the LORD shall help them and deliver them;
He shall deliver them from the wicked,
And save them,
Because they trust in Him.
Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
And wither as the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret—it only causes harm.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on the LORD,
They shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;
Indeed, you will look carefully for his place,
But it shall be no more.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth,
And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plots against the just,
And gnashes at him with his teeth.
13 The Lord laughs at him,
For He sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn the sword
And have bent their bow,
To cast down the poor and needy,
To slay those who are of upright conduct.
15 Their sword shall enter their own heart,
And their bows shall be broken.
16 A little that a righteous man has
Is better than the riches of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
But the LORD upholds the righteous.
18 The LORD knows the days of the upright,
And their inheritance shall be forever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time,
And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20 But the wicked shall perish;
And the enemies of the LORD,
Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish.
Into smoke they shall vanish away.
21 The wicked borrows and does not repay,
But the righteous shows mercy and gives.
22 For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth,
But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the LORD upholds him with His hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread.
26 He is ever merciful, and lends;
And his descendants are blessed.
27 Depart from evil, and do good;
And dwell forevermore.
28 For the LORD loves justice,
And does not forsake His saints;
They are preserved forever,
But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land,
And dwell in it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom,
And his tongue talks of justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
None of his steps shall slide.
32 The wicked watches the righteous,
And seeks to slay him.
33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand,
Nor condemn him when he is judged.
34 Wait on the LORD,
And keep His way,
And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;
When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power,
And spreading himself like a native green tree.
36 Yet he passed away,[a] and behold, he was no more;
Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright;
For the future of that man is peace.
38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together;
The future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
He is their strength in the time of trouble.
40 And the LORD shall help them and deliver them;
He shall deliver them from the wicked,
And save them,
Because they trust in Him.
